Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-01-28

mattressmakerr are obliged by their ern-
nloyers TO work in rooms with the Dir thick
With dust and small particles of vegetable
matter: the air is sometimes so filled with
this dust that il g impossible to see across
the room. Breathing this constantly causes
catarrh and consumption.
"In many trslses, as in dry grinding, the
workman has ne choice but to breathe the
air charged With small particles OF metallic
and other mineral matter, by which means
his lungs are rapidly destroyed. In the
foundries, smthies and the sweat boxes OF
the furniture manufactures the workman
is compelled to labor in temperature Of
100 to 12O degrees, with no relief but
drinking large quantities Of cold water,
which, exuding from the pores of his skin,
produces an exhaustive perspiration. Toll
ing under these conditions creates extreme
physical depression and an abnormal thirst
which can only be assuaged by stlmulants.
"Add to these facts another-that the
worker is rarely provided with place in
which to eat his dinner except in the midst
of the dust and poison-laden atmosphere
of his occupation; that seldom is any pro-
vision made for washing his hands or face
can he be blamed for ad:;ourning to the
saloon, where he finds change of air. q
chance to become cleaned, and the abnor-
mally craved stimulant to wash his dinner
down his dust filled throat?"
That many trades are pernicious to
health is unfortunately too true; but this
affords no excuse for intemperance. The
effect of alcohol is to open the pores, and
render the absorption of poisonous dust,
ETC., more certain. It enfeebles The sys-
tenn, and renders it less able to resist the
environment. And it is not true that work.
ing in foundries, smithies, and furniture
factories creates IN abnormal thirst (which
can only be assuaged by stimulants. "
Thirst is created, but it can be satisfied
with pure water; there is nothing "abnor-
NAL" about such thirst. Water, tea, or
coffee ara as efiicacious as beer, WHISKY,
and other forms of body-rot. The plea is
appetite.
ly follows the last portion quoted above
with the following, which he evidently con-
siders to be a cIincher of what has gone
before:
"In the evening, as he leaves his work,
with its mind and body destroying inhu-
| ences, disguised with his condition, disset-
ished with his meager pay, discouraged by
the knowledge that his days experience is
to be repeated as long as he is able to give
| satisfaction 10 his employer, with no attract
| i've home influences reaching out to him, is
| it matter for establishment if he repairs to
the saloon. where, in the companionship OF
his friends, with the Establishments of the
saloon-keeper, and the stimulus of the
| liquor, he finds relief and comfort III talk
ing shop or politics?"
| We should think it extremely likely that
man who kept his system constantly sat
urated with beer and whisky would be dis
gusted with his condition. The vile poison
depends upon whether he be q coward o,
not whether he goes to saloon on his way
home. A decent man would have healthy
appetite for his supper, and would go brisk.
" home to get it; and if he stopped on the
| way at oil, it would be to spend his money
not for beer, but for something good t.
eat, to take home to share
with his wife and children. Goo
pity the workingmen Of this land i
they all were the selfish brutes pictured by
the socialistic writer! Is man to conside
himself the be-all and end-all of his life
Does he owe nothing to his family, hi
friends? Is he, because he as poor ant
obliged to work. to consider that it is hi
duty to be constantly buying beer in ,
saloon2
And, again, how about his wife? VIII,
shall not some of the lachrymose pit.
which is lavished on him because his day
experience "is to be repeated as long as b.
er,".not extended to his unfortunate wife
| who is likewise compelled c7ery day, a!
long as life lasts. her toll in that home 8,
graphically described as with no attractive
lnfuences?" The whole argument is bad
AS we said before, cause is put for effect
| and effect for cause. The home is wretch
ed and unattractive because the money tina
would make it SO goes into the till of III,
saloonkeeper. The man loafs i'll tn
saloon because he wants to drink, not be
cause his home could not be pleasant if h,
wished to make it SO.
The whole document affords incontest
able reasons why the saloon should b
abolished. Crush the drink traffic, clos
up every saloon, and the man will be II
worse Off than his wife and children. I
they can stand the home which is Away
painted in such unattractive hues, SO ca
he. And if he has not the opportunity t
become drunken loafer every night, il ma
be that his dormant manhood will reassel
itself, and he begin to learn his duty as
husband and father, and do it. He ma
make his home attractive, and take pleas
ure in the society of his wife and receivin
and repaying the visits of friends. But S
long as there are such teachers as the autho
of this precious document-a blind leade
of the blind-he will not do so if there is
saloon wherein he can loiter. The work
ingmen should look at this question in til
light of truth and honesty and justice
When they can once sec the situation rs
really is, they will join hands i'll IL might
effort to
PaLueri<e the Ram Pouer.
Drunkenness in Switzerland.
Drunkenness having greatly increased i